Obituaries

David Harley Rye March 27, 1944 - Nov. 17, 2022 GEORGETOWN, Texas — David Harley Rye was born in Omaha, Neb., March 27, 1944, the second son of Leafton Nutter Rye and Arnt John Rye. He grew up in Omaha, where he graduated from Omaha South High School in 1962...

Blake Lucas Bruner Nov. 9, 2001 - Nov. 21, 2022 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — My beautiful son, Blake Lucas Bruner of Sioux Falls, took his own life at his apartment on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, turning 21, only 12 days earlier. Blake’s Grandpa Gary, who Blake joined in heaven on Monday, had given him a St. ...

Loran Terrell McDanield July 27, 1928 - Nov. 21, 2022 FAIR GROVE, Mo. — Loran Terrell McDanield, 94, passed away at his home in Fair Grove, Missouri on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. He was born July 27, 1928 to Georgia Mercedes (Thomas) McDanield in St. Paul, Minn. His mother later married Friend Bosser “Boss” Greene, and Loran and his family grew up in Eminence, Mo...

Doris A. (Shormann) Oliver March 11, 1937 - Nov. 22, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Doris A. (Shormann) Oliver, 85, of McCook, died Nov. 22, 2022, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born March 11, 1937, in Kearney, Neb. She was preceded in death by her husband, Benny Ray Oliver; parents, Elmer and Ruth (Puttergill) Shormann; brothers, Charles (Kathy) Shormann and Clarence (Sue) Shormann; sister, Shirley (Lonnie) Todd; plus numerous family and friends...

Georgia J. “Jody” Kirby Sept. 12, 1935 - Nov. 25, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Georgia J. “Jody” Kirby, age 87, passed away at Community Hospital of McCook on Nov. 25, 2022. She was born to Perry and Arietta (Hughes)Doak in the family sod house at St. Francis, Kan., on Sept. 12, 1935...

Donna Lee Brewster March 7, 1939 - Nov. 25, 2022 HASTINGS, Neb. — Donna Lee Brewster, age 83, passed away Nov. 25, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Village in Hastings.  Donna was born March 7, 1939, in Cameron, Wis., to Lee Kenneth Hill and Madge Merna (Fleharty) Hill.  She graduated from Arapahoe High School in Arapahoe, Neb., with the Class of 1957...

Lester “Les” N. Snowden March 16, 1929 - Nov. 23, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Lester “Les” N. Snowden, age 93, lifelong resident of McCook, passed away at Community Hospital in McCook on Nov. 23, 2022. He was born on March 16, 1929, to W. W. (Bill) Snowden and Denicie (Olmsted) Snowden. Les attended school in McCook, graduating in 1948...

Lela Deloris Fortkamp Nov. 27, 1934 - Nov. 26, 2022 BIRD CITY, Kan. — Lela Deloris Fortkamp went home to her maker on Nov. 26, 2022, at Bird City, Kan., in her second home, her beloved motor home, while celebrating the holiday and her birthday with family...

Ronald LeRoy Barnett April 28, 1938 - Nov. 23, 2022 HOLBROOK, Neb. —Ronald LeRoy Barnett, age 84, of Holbrook, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at Kearney Regional Hospital at Kearney, Neb. He was born to Harold and Lela (Newcomb) Barnett at the home of his grandparents, Ross and Ollie Newcomb, on April 28, 1938. He was the eldest of seven children...

Pamela Jane Esslinger Aug. 2, 1949 - Nov. 22, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Pamela Jane Esslinger, age 73, of McCook, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at the Community Hospital in McCook. She was born on Aug. 2, 1949, at Denver, Colo., to Alfred and Ellen Jane (Meyers) DeSaire, the oldest of six children...

Derek Brent Sheffer June 21, 1951 - Nov. 19, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Derek Brent Sheffer, age 71, of McCook, formerly of Hutchinson, Kan., passed away Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Community Hospital in McCook. Derek was born on June 21, 1951, in Phillipsburg, Kan., to Winton Lott and Peggy Jeanne (Stice) Sheffer. He received his education in Stockton, Kan., where he graduated from high school...

Stan Smith May 1, 1928 - Nov. 17, 2022 IMPERIAL, Neb. —Stanley Ray Smith was born May 1, 1928, to Leslie Smith Sr. and Gladys (Comer) Smith. Stan was a life-long resident of Chase County. He attended the country school, Little Dale, grades 1-8. He was the only student in his grade all eight years. ...

Owen Willis Stagemeyer Sept. 15, 1935 - Nov. 17, 2022 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Owen Willis Stagemeyer, age 87, long-time Arapahoe resident, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at his farmstead of 70-plus years. Owen was born on Sept. 15, 1935, in rural Frontier County, Neb., to William and Mary (Schutz) Stagemeyer. He was the third of three children...

Robert Eugene “Butch” Simpson June 9, 1942 - Oct. 31, 2022 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Robert Eugene “Butch” Simpson, 80, of Colorado Springs, died Oct. 31, 2022. He was born June 9, 1942, to Carolyn B. Olmsted (Kanost) and Victor E. Simpson. He grew up in Wauneta, Neb. He worked for Hewlett-Packard, Sandia National Labs and established his own company...

Steven E. Best July 24, 1958 - Nov. 12, 2022 WILSONVILLE, Neb. — Steven E. Best, age 64, of Wilsonville, passed away Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, Neb. He was born on July 24, 1958, in Great Falls, Mont., to Eugene E. and Dorothy L. (Schoolmeesters) Best...

Dean Herman Dack Oct. 20, 1928 - Nov. 12, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Dean Herman Dack, age 94, of McCook, passed away at Community Hospital in McCook on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. He was born in McCook on Oct. 20, 1928, to Joseph E. and Maude C. (Tubbs) Dack. ...

Patricia E. Hanken Feb. 15, 1956 - Nov. 11, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Patricia E. Hanken, age 66, of McCook, passed away on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 at Community Hospital in McCook. Patricia was born Feb. 15, 1956, in San Diego, Calif., to parents, Richard A. and Elizabeth Ann (Wells) Simants. She was one of three children. The family moved to Palisade, Neb., where Patricia attended school, graduating in 1974...

Val D. Fuller Aug. 30, 1938 - Nov. 12, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Val D. Fuller, 84, of McCook, died Saturday (Nov. 12, 2022), at Community Hospital in McCook. In honoring his wishes, there will be no formal service. He will be laid to rest next to his parents in Memorial Park Cemetery, McCook...

Gary Eugene Lytton July 21, 1949 - Nov. 11, 2022 KENESAW, Neb. — Gary Eugene Lytton of Kenesaw, age 73, passed away at the Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings on Nov. 11, 2022. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 21, 1949, to Dale and Gertrude (Johnson) Lytton. Gary attended school in Truro, Iowa, and later graduated from Dunwoody School of Engineering in Minneapolis, Minn., with a degree in Mechanical Engineering...

Margaret Ann O’Neil Phillips Sept. 29,1938 - Nov. 12, 2022 WAUNETA, Neb. — Margaret Ann O’Neil Phillips was born Sept. 29, 1938, in Imperial, Neb., and passed from this earth Nov. 12, 2022, at the Wauneta Care and Therapy Center, in Wauneta.She was 84. Marge was the second daughter of Bernard and Dorothy (Roth) O’Neil...

Kathleen Jane Beals Crampton Jan. 27, 1942 - Nov. 12, 2022 COLBY, Kan. — Kathleen Jane Beals Crampton passed away during her sleep Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kan. Kathleen was born Jan. 27, 1942, in Farnam, Neb., to Nancy Jane Beals and Joseph Ralph Beals. Kathleen lived on her parent’s farm in Frontier County, Neb., and graduated high school from Cambridge, Neb. After graduation, she babysat her nephews before becoming a farm wife...

Richard Bernard Samson July 10, 1939 - Nov. 8, 2022 LUDELL, Kan. — Richard Bernard Samson, 83, of Ludell, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at his home in Ludell Township, Rawlins County, Kan. Richard was born July 10, 1939, in Union Township, to Adrian F. and Tressie B. (Flood) Samson. Richard’s life began on his aunts farm, east of Atwood. The family moved to the farm east of Ludell in 1941, when he was two. Richard spent the remainder of his life on the farm he loved so dearly...

Michael Eugene Allen May 22, 1952 - Nov. 6, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Michael Eugene Allen was born on May 22, 1952, in McCook to John Prescott Allen and Betty Jo (Brady) Allen. He was the fifth of seven children. Mike grew up in Oxford, Neb., and attended Oxford Schools...

Irene Maxine Smith April 1, 1941 - Oct. 26, 2022 FREDERICKSBURG, Texas — Irene Maxine Smith passed away at her home in Fredericksburg, on Oct. 26, 2022. She was surrounded by her family when she passed. She was 81. Irene was born in McCook, Neb., the first child of Albert J. ...

Barbara Brown McCOOK, Neb. — Barbara Brown, 84, died Thursday (Oct. 6, 2022), at Community Hospital in McCook. Cremation was chosen and a Celebration of Life is Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, 6-8 p.m., at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date in the Culbertson Cemetery...

Vickie Lynn Gummere Feb. 10, 1970 - Oct. 31, 2022 LINCOLN, Neb. — Vickie Lynn Gummere, age 52, was born on Feb. 10, 1970, in Seoul, South Korea. She passed away early Monday morning, Oct. 31, 2022. She was adopted at nine months of age by Beryl and Sharon (Schleeman) Gummere of Stratton, Neb...